Two firefighters have been suspended after being caught on camera scrapping with each other in the middle of last week’s Newtownabbey disorder, it’s been claimed.
The pair, both on-call crew members, were supposed to be tackling a burning vehicle at a Department for Infrastructure site when a Sky News helicopter filmed them shoving and squaring up as chaos unfolded near the Sandyknowes roundabout.
Footage shows the duo clashing twice before a stunned colleague steps in to pull them apart, Belfast Live reports.
A source close to those involved told Belfast Live that the pair were "best mates", insisting the incident was merely "banter" and that they were simply "messing about".
It is understood that upon returning to the station following the incident, the crew were informed that the footage had been broadcast on television, and both individuals were asked to provide statements while continuing to attend call-outs.
When the two firefighters turned up to their weekly training session on Thursday evening, it is believed they were told they had been suspended on full pay, before being asked to surrender their pagers and escorted off the premises.
A NIFRS spokesperson declined to comment, stating: "We do not comment on individual employee matters."
